NHL Sour Rankings: Early Look at the Struggling Teams
The first NHL Sour Rankings of the 2025-26 season spotlight teams that seem least motivated. With just a month into the season, the standings remain tight, and only a handful of teams occupy the lower ranks. Currently, six teams have records below .500, highlighting the NHL's competitive balance.
Teams at the Bottom and Draft Lottery Hopefuls
As part of a yearly tradition at The Hockey News, the Sour Rankings focus on the NHL's basement teams. These clubs will aim for top prospects in the upcoming draft if they remain near the league's bottom.
Top Prospects to Watch
The leading prospect this year is Gavin McKenna, a dynamic forward who dominated the WHL and is now excelling at NCAA's Penn State. His creativity and skill excite teams eager to draft him.
Besides McKenna, the draft features many high-quality prospects. It’s known for its depth compared to recent years. One notable player is Tynan Lawrence, recognized as a top center combining skill, speed, and power.
"The top prospect in this year’s NHL draft is Gavin McKenna, a superstar forward who has dominated the WHL the last couple of seasons, and now he’s putting up impressive numbers at the NCAA level with Penn State."
"Tynan Lawrence is the top center for most people, blending skill and speed with some really interesting power elements as well."
Only time will tell which struggling teams can turn their fortunes around and secure a strong position in the draft lottery.
Author's summary: Early NHL Sour Rankings reveal six teams under .500 amid tight standings, while prospects Gavin McKenna and Tynan Lawrence lead a deep 2025 draft class.